The 1916 Final, played at Coats Field in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, was noteworthy for a major controversy. A penalty kick was called with ten minutes left. It sent the local crowd of 10,000 into hysterics feeling the (closer to)-home side, the Fall River Rovers, were being cheated, or at least mistreated. Tommy Fleming, another Bethlehem Steel legend the size of Millar, scored the only goal of the game from the spot to seal the deal for the Pennsylvanians. But not before, in the dying moments, a fan ran on the field and attacked the referee, who was further beaten by an angry mob before a local policeman, revolver drawn, dispersed the assailants.
Fall River’s Finest
Now’s a good time to talk about Fall River, Massachusetts. The same immigrant-heavy city that sent a side to the 1916 ‘Revolver’ Final, was home to another club that would go on to win five Open Cups.
The first of those titles for Fall River (who would at times wear the various names of Fall River Marksmen/New York Yankees/New Bedford Whalers) came in 1924 (the mill city in southern Massachusetts also had a team win the Open Cup back-to-back in 1917 and 1918).
Two legendary names of the Fall River team(s) are Adelino ‘Billy’ Gonsalves, who eventually won eight Open Cups, played in two World Cups for the USA and is generally considered one of the greatest this country ever produced. His attacking partner, Bert Patenaude, was known for a bloodhound’s nose for goal and aerial ability both. Born, like Gonsalves, in Fall River, he’s credited as scorer of the first hat-trick in World Cup history, with all the goals in the USA’s 3-0 win over Paraguay at the 1930 finals.
